India and the United States will meet for the third 2 + 2 Ministerial Talks attended by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo along with Defense Secretary Mark Esper in New Delhi on October 26. and October 27. The talks are part of the broader military cooperation between New Delhi and Washington and are crucial for both India and the United States.
Here’s what you need to know about 2 + 2 talks:
What are ‘2 + 2 conversations’?
‘2 + 2 talks’ is a term adopted in foreign diplomacy that involves a dialogue between the defense and foreign ministries of two countries. India has these kinds of talks with Japan and Australia as well, but at the level of Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Defense. It is only with the United States that India holds talks at the ministerial level.
Also read: 2 + 2 Dialogue between India and the US to focus on regional cooperation on security and defense information exchange
What happened in the previous 2 + 2 conversations?
India and the US have met for two 2 + 2 talks: one held in New Delhi in September 2018 and the second held in Washington DC in December 2019. The talks resulted in agreements known as the Exchange Memorandum of Understanding. logistics (LEMOA) and communications compatibility. and Security Agreement (COMCASA). LEMOA allows both countries access to each other’s designated military facilities for refueling and refueling. COMCASA is an India specific agreement, which provides a legal framework for the transfer of communications security equipment without interruption in supply from the US to India and also provides access to classified real-time information from the navy American for the Indian Navy.
What’s on the table now during 2 + 2 talks?
The focus of the dialogue will be the Indo-Pacific region and the Indian neighborhood. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) is likely to be signed in these talks and will allow India to use American expertise in geospatial intelligence and also assist India’s weapons and automate hardware systems.
What do these talks mean for India and the United States?
For New Delhi, the talks come at a time of bitter confrontation with China on the Royal Line of Control in Ladakh and for the United States they come on the cusp of the presidential elections scheduled for November 3 in which current President Donald Trump has taken a tough stance on China. Therefore, both for the Chinese countries and for their aggressive rise is the “area of common interest”. Although strategic experts have distrusted the outcome of the talks, as they are the last major diplomatic engagement before the US presidential elections.
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